ISLAMABAD: Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday summoned interior secretary and district coordination officer (DCO) Okara in a contempt of court petition filed by Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi against his 30 days detention orders under maintenance of public order (MPO).

The same bench had set aside his detention on March 13, directing the government “to immediately release the petitioner (Lakhvi), if he is not required in any other case”.

The same day on March 13, DCO Okara had issued his detention orders for further 30 days under the MPO.

Counsel for Lakhvi, Raja Rizwan Abbasi advocate, argued before the court that the IHC bench had declared his client’s detention order by district magistrate Islamabad as illegal. But the DCO Okara issued his detention order which is a contempt of court.

The IHC bench directed the respondents to submit their reply by April 14 and adjourned the hearing.

An anti-terrorism court judge, Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi, on December 18, 2014 had granted post-arrest bail to Lakhvi against Rs1 million surety bonds, but he was arrested on the same day under Section ‘3’ of the MPO.

Mr Lakhvi’s detention orders were further extended on January 18 and February 18.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2015

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